Preparing for a Disaster

Disasters can strike in any season. Now is the time to prepare so you're ready for the next disaster.

Safety first. If you need to evacuate on short notice, don’t risk your safety by spending time gathering your personal items or financial records.

List important numbers and store them in your wallet and cell phone. Numbers to include: your insurance agent’s phone number, your bank and credit card account and phone numbers, and the number for the Consumer Protection Division, 1-877-5-NO-SCAM.

Keep important documents such as insurance policies, mortgage documents, bank account information, passports, social security cards, and health insurance cards in a safe place where you can grab them quickly if you need to evacuate. You may also want to store copies in a secure location, such as a waterproof/fireproof container or a bank safety deposit box.

Take your bills, too. Creditors will still expect you to pay on time, even if you have to evacuate.

Inventory your home to make submitting an insurance claim simpler. Try to videotape or photograph each room, being sure to record your most valuable items. Store your inventory in a safe place, such as a waterproof/fireproof container or a bank safety deposit box. Consider storing photos or videos on a website that you can access from anywhere instead of just on your home computer.

Keep some emergency cash on hand. Power outages can make it difficult to use ATMs or shop by debit or credit card

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Fuel up. If you know that you may need to evacuate in the coming days or hours, make sure your car has a full tank of gas and your cell phone and other portable devices are fully charged.